Though too many families across the nation have been separated by the COVID-19 pandemic, quite the opposite has been true for one young Flower Mound couple.

Since late February, Cristina and Kenny Halloran have resided with Kenny’s mother Terri, sister Kelly, brother-in-law Tadas and nephew Oskar. Had the virus not hit the world, they would be 2,000 miles apart as Cristina would be back in Panama at her job with Johnson and Johnson.

She was scheduled to return March 18 but after the U.S. began shutting down a week earlier and her home country was doing the same, she was able to remain here. Fortunately, her company decided to allow people to work from home and Cristina was able to keep her job and stay with her family in America.

“It was exciting for her to be able to stay here, but we hadn’t thought about the logistics at all,” said the 34-year-old Kenny, one of the six people living under his mother’s roof. “Living in the house together with so many of us has been a special time, full of laughs and fun.”

Born and raised with her triplet sisters, older brother and a younger sister in Bogota, Colombia, the 26-year-old Cristina moved to her mother’s native Panama City at age 13. She first came to the U.S. in 2011 to attend the University of Arkansas under a full-ride scholarship program sponsored by the Panama government.

“I didn’t know what the University of Arkansas was until I showed up,” she said. “You land there and it’s just farms, farms, farms.”

After earning a degree in science in 2015, she started an internship at Baylor Hospital in downtown Dallas to become a registered dietitian. One of her training rotations was at a southside clinic where Kenny was working as a grant writer for the Southern Sector Health Initiative, a private/public community-based collaboration with the City of Dallas that studied diabetes.

“It’s a unique part of Baylor, one that even many people who work there don’t know anything about,” said Kenny, a state champion wrestler under the coaching of his late father Frank at Dallas Jesuit High School, and a scholarship athlete in the sport at the University of Michigan.

After Cristina finished her internship in June 2016, she headed back to Panama to fulfill the obligations of her scholarship. Soon thereafter, Kenny visited her and they then dated long distance until November 2017 when they got married in Dallas during one of her visits to the U.S.

“We wanted to be together and were thinking about getting married in Panama with my family and everyone there,” she said. “He said ‘you are coming here anyway – why don’t we just get married here. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Let’s just get married. You can tell your mom, then we’ll bring her here and she can be with us.’

“We told my mom in Panama and she was so happy she opened up a bottle of wine. Two weeks later we got married. Kenny made all the arrangements.”

They had to live separately for about six months until he moved to Panama in April 2018. Ever since they have been together and apart multiple times as they work their way through the three-step U.S. legal immigration process which normally takes 12-18 months but is more complicated with the pandemic.

It begins with the American citizen submitting I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) paperwork to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service which Kenny did in February 2019.

Problem is, he estimates there are more than one million people in the pipeline which might explain why until April 30 they had only heard their petition was received and transferred from the Nebraska processing center to one in Vermont. It was on that day they found out it had moved to Step 2.

And even though President Trump recently halted the issuance of green cards during the pandemic, it isn’t supposed to affect Cristina’s status as the wife of a U.S. citizen.

After working for about seven months as a hospital dietitian in Panama City, she switched to her current position in pharmacovigilance (drug safety) with U.S.-based Johnson and Johnson which had a major division in her home city.

Once things settle down from the pandemic and their petition is eventually approved, Cristina and Kenny plan to purchase a home near his new job with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital’s Frisco campus. She is hopeful Johnson and Johnson will allow her to keep her job but work remotely.

Until then they can enjoy sheltering in place with his family and making the best of life together.

]]>Lantana teen shares journey from healing to helpinghttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/05/22/lantana-teen-shares-journey-from-healing-to-helping/
Fri, 22 May 2020 21:20:28 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=47059What a difference a little more than five years has made for Sadie Keller of Lantana. She’s gone from a shy 7 year old battling a rare form of cancer and recording encouraging videos about her journey in her mom’s closet to collecting toys for sick children to advocating Congress for funds to fight the ...

How can you take the worst thing that ever happened to you and use it to make thousands of children happy? Sadie Keller did just that. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

What a difference a little more than five years has made for Sadie Keller of Lantana.

She’s gone from a shy 7 year old battling a rare form of cancer and recording encouraging videos about her journey in her mom’s closet to collecting toys for sick children to advocating Congress for funds to fight the disease.

Last month, she celebrated her 13th birthday and later this month becomes a first-time author with the release of “Better Angels,” a 250-page paperback published by Gavia Books.

“My whole life has changed in five years. It’s crazy to think about that,” she said. “I finished chemo May 26, 2017 so it’s been nearly three years which is crazy to think. It’s exciting to think the more time that goes by the less likely it comes back.”

Keller co-wrote the book with U.S. Representative Michael McCaul of Austin who she first met in 2016 at a cancer event in Washington, DC and again in 2017 at a lobbying event seeking more federal funds for research.

“When he was in fourth grade one of his friends passed away from cancer so he really wants to focus on childhood cancer,” Sadie said. “He started Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus more than 10 years ago so I told him my story. He took me and my mom on a tour of the Capitol.”

“He is the reason it has gotten the attention within Washington,” said her mom, Sarah.

“Better Angels” is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming tale of what it’s like to face the possibility of death at a young age and how to turn it into a life-giving opportunity.

“It was hard because I had to relive everything in writing the book,” Sadie added. “But it was amazing because I have my story that I will never forget now.”

Sadie Keller

Sadie was first diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL B Cell for short in February 2015. Over the next two years plus, she underwent an array of tests, treatments, and trips to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

After attending Harpool Middle School for her first semester in sixth grade, she switched to online learning to provide more time to write the book and launch and oversee her foundation’s work to fight childhood cancer.

Her continuing lobbying efforts were instrumental in Congress passing – and her witnessing President Trump signing in person – the STAR Act (Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research) in 2018. She also pushed for the Creating Hope Act and RACE for Children Act, providing funding to create chemotherapies that don’t have so many lasting side effects.

She and McCaul also visited oncology kids in Botswana, Africa, in the hospital Texas Children’s Hospital built as part of its Global Hope initiative introduced by McCaul to help doctors in Africa diagnose and treat childhood cancer.

“It was exciting because it will make more of a difference for kids with childhood cancer,” Sadie said. “Surviving kids are a big part of that act because not all kids do survive.”

She said while 8 of 10 children survive cancer in the U.S., 9 of 10 die in Africa, where she and McCaul visited in February soon before things shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her book, which she said took about eight months to write, is now available for pre-order on her Facebook page at facebook.com/sadiekellerfoundation.org or can be bought at all major bookstores. A national book signing tour this May was postponed due to the pandemic. In lieu of that she is doing some virtual promotions. She also recently started a bi-weekly program known as Calling on Angels on her Facebook page.

She has continued her Sadie’s Sleigh program securing and distributing holiday gifts for children suffering from cancer in hospitals in North Texas and as far away as Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. In total, Sadie’s Sleigh has helped 18,000 children at more than 11 hospitals and distributed over 58,000 toys.

All these efforts not only help children battling cancer now, they help her promote the fact only about 4 percent of cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer.

“How much you live isn’t all about the years, but about the people you touch, the difference you make, and the joy you bring to others,” said Sadie.

]]>KLA Schools: Flower Mound’s best kept secret for early childhood educationhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/05/22/kla-schools-flower-mounds-best-kept-secret-for-early-childhood-education/
Fri, 22 May 2020 21:16:06 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=47057KLA Schools of Flower Mound has been on the corner of Bridlewood Boulevard and West Windsor Drive educating young children since opening its doors to the community in 2016. Its curriculum follows the Reggio Emilia approach to education, named after the city in Italy where it began. It is based on the philosophy that children ...

The staff at KLA Schools of Flower Mound equip children with the knowledge and skills needed for a strong foundation. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

KLA Schools of Flower Mound has been on the corner of Bridlewood Boulevard and West Windsor Drive educating young children since opening its doors to the community in 2016.

Its curriculum follows the Reggio Emilia approach to education, named after the city in Italy where it began. It is based on the philosophy that children are competent, capable and natural researchers who have an innate desire to learn.

“Children learn through singing, dancing, painting, building and doing. Other schools try to get children to learn one way. Here, they learn their own way,” said Pedagogical Coordinator Tara Roquemore.

Through observations while working alongside children, teachers document the child’s thinking, encouraging each one to reflect and develop their stories. By really listening to children, teachers inspire confidence, building their self-esteem on a daily basis. This fosters a love of learning and a curiosity that will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Each classroom features large windows and transparent doors connected to one another. The rooms surround a central piazza to promote the sense of community that is such an important part of the approach. Classes are divided by age group with low teacher-to-student ratios to inspire more experiences that follow the children’s interests.

KLA serves children from eight-weeks-old to pre-kindergarten in a variety of full day, half day and part time programs. It also offers before and after school care and summer camp for children up to 12 years of age. The teachers receive regular professional development and education throughout the year to encourage their creativity.

As Loris Malaguzzi, one of the founders of the Reggio Emilia Approach, states: “The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.”

Register for summer camp by April 30 and receive 10 percent off camp tuition. Pre-registration is open for the 2020-21 school year. Sign up May 29 and receive a $500 tuition credit.

]]>Shutter Up Quick! helps homeowners add valuehttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/05/22/shutter-up-quick-helps-homeowners-add-value/
Fri, 22 May 2020 21:15:06 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=47055Does improving your home with custom plantation shutters add value to your largest asset? Pam and Jeff Varnell successfully discovered that they did more than 12 years ago. As real estate flippers they were installing shutters in their homes and a number of buyers told them how much they loved them. After hearing this time ...

Pam and Jeff Varnell offer shutters, blinds and shades that will enhance the value of your home. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

Does improving your home with custom plantation shutters add value to your largest asset? Pam and Jeff Varnell successfully discovered that they did more than 12 years ago.

As real estate flippers they were installing shutters in their homes and a number of buyers told them how much they loved them. After hearing this time and again, they figured they should create a company out of it and thus ShutterUp Quick! was born. More than a decade later they still are helping scores of clients in Flower Mound and the surrounding communities.

“Shutters are really the only product that enhances the value of your home,” Pam said. “It’s obviously classic and timeless. It both appraises and enhances the value of your home. It’s actually an investment piece.”

Pam, a fourth generation Dallasite, is among the growing number of woman entrepreneurs who prides herself on personal service.

“We bring the store to your door,” she said. “We do free in-home consultations. We don’t have a minimum order and offer everyday value prices. We take the hassle out of it and our shutters come with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.”

“We are a total turnkey operation,” Jeff added. “We do the measuring, the quotes and the install. We’ll never pass you off.”

Shutter Up Quick! handles all forms of window coverings, including shutters, blinds and shades. Their inventory includes wood and faux wood plantation shutters and blinds, natural shades, roller shades, cellular shades and roman shades. They also specialize in the newer cordless trends, motorization and hidden and invisible operating systems.

“Shades on outdoor living areas have become very popular,” Pam said. “We provide total turnkey solutions for outdoor patios and gazebos as well.”

“We’ve always focused locally. We’re independent. We’re not a franchise. We represent many manufacturers because they each offer a little something different. One might have something the others don’t.”

]]>Double Oak mom balances caring for COVID patients and familyhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/05/09/double-oak-mom-balances-caring-for-covid-patients-and-family/
Sat, 09 May 2020 23:26:00 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=46804As a cardiac nurse at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Karen Lowe has treated hundreds of seriously-ill patients, but never thought she would use her skills in the middle of a pandemic. That’s exactly where the Double Oak mom of five has been since mid-March. A Level 1 trauma center, Baylor has long been ...

Karen Lowe (center) has been working directly with COVID-19 patients, while also caring for her husband and five young children. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

As a cardiac nurse at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Karen Lowe has treated hundreds of seriously-ill patients, but never thought she would use her skills in the middle of a pandemic.

That’s exactly where the Double Oak mom of five has been since mid-March. A Level 1 trauma center, Baylor has long been where people from all over the state and beyond receive the highest level of care. So it’s no surprise health care specialists like her are at the forefront of the battle with the unseen enemy.

“With COVID, it has truly been all hands on deck,” she said. “Several of our floors and an ICU have pivoted to serve as containment units to effectively treat those who are ill and contain the spread of the virus. This becomes an incredible and cooperative effort as we all have to know and be prepared with the policies posted daily that evolve with the CDCs latest recommendations and the growing research and knowledge of the virus.”

Like all her fellow medical professionals, Lowe has seen everything from patients making a full recovery and walking out of the hospital to passing away and everything in between.

“We are trained to be flexible and highly adaptive and to use our whole brain and whole heart every day,” she said. “I’ve experienced some of the hardest days in being a nurse dealing with COVID and addressing the severity of the illness and the families of the patients not being able to be with them.

“The level of fear and anxiety that my patients face without their families is tough, so as nurses not only are we navigating the stressors of the illness but also their emotional states. We stand in the gap for them with their family and friends who are not able to be with them.”

At first Lowe and her peers worked more than the usual three 12-hour weekly shifts. As things began settling down, she has returned to her regular schedule which has allowed more time to serve her own family as a homeschool teacher to her children – son Zachary, 14; triplets Keegan, Shaun, and Joshua, 9; and daughter Anna Kate, 5 – who normally attend Founders Classical Academy of Flower Mound.

“Of my five children, four are dependent learners so navigating the technology of that first two weeks was challenging as well,” she said. “I work three days at the hospital and come home and do schooling with my children the other four days.”

Teaching her children at home has given Lowe a new appreciation for those who do it professionally.

“After my experience these last few weeks, helping my children, and seeing how much effort their teachers have put into the online modules and connecting with each student, I’m convinced now, more than ever, that each teacher’s salary needs to be no less than a million dollars a year!” she quipped.

“It’s had its challenges but wonderful parts too because I get to see where my children’s strengths are and where they need help. I feel much more in touch of where they are at in school and can stand shoulder to shoulder with their teachers. It’s provided more of an understanding and empathy for educators in all of this as well.”

Lowe has worked at Baylor Dallas for three years after starting her nursing career at Medical City Lewisville. Before earning her nursing degree at Biola University in California in 2010 she served five years as a human resources manager.

She became interested in nursing after having to go to the intensive care unit due to some complications from Zachary’s birth.

“I saw what good the caring medical professionals could do and what the negligent professionals could do,” she said. “I believe that nurses make a profound impact on patients’ lives. Our career affords us the opportunity to use our whole heads and whole hearts, every single shift.

“We have the most direct patient care and tend to the changing severities and acuities of the illness, while also having the opportunity to walk with our patients through the darkest, most anxious times. We are allowed into our patient’s journey for a brief moment, and have the opportunity to impact their heart, mind, soul, and body.”

Before moving to Double Oak four years ago, Lowe, husband Dave and her children lived in Lantana and Flower Mound. That journey and her education and training have provided a resiliency to get things done and find new ways to do them.

“There have been some deeply difficult aspects of COVID with the fear, unknowns, and isolation, and yet I feel a silver lining is that there has been such resiliency and creativity as we have had to find new ways to do things,” she said.

“In our isolation, we have found new ways to connect and reach out to one another in a new sense of community and understanding in ways we have never done before.”

]]>New technology eases painhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/05/07/new-technology-eases-pain/
Thu, 07 May 2020 05:15:17 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=46737Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic put a moratorium on elective medical procedures, the physicians at Lewisville’s Advanced Pain Institute of Texas were able to launch a new way to aid their patients. The Medtronic Differential Target Multiplex (DTM) spinal cord stimulation waveform has allowed Dr. John Broadnax and Dr. Eric Anderson to offer relief from ...

Doctors John Broadnax and Eric Anderson at Advanced Pain Institute of Texas put your well-being before all else.

Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic put a moratorium on elective medical procedures, the physicians at Lewisville’s Advanced Pain Institute of Texas were able to launch a new way to aid their patients.

The Medtronic Differential Target Multiplex (DTM) spinal cord stimulation waveform has allowed Dr. John Broadnax and Dr. Eric Anderson to offer relief from chronic pain to several of their patients. DTM is the most updated version of spinal cord stimulation devices that have been around in various forms since the 1980s.

“We start with a one week trial period where we look for at least 50 percent pain relief, improved sleep, and decreased pain medication use,” Dr. Broadnax said. “Then if the trial is successful we go to the implantation phase.”

The spinal cord stimulator is similar to a pacemaker and features two wires placed near the spine that are connected to the battery placed under the skin. It sends a pulse that blocks pain signals from an area of chronic pain. The DTM waveform is unique in that it not only stimulates spinal cord neurons similar to traditional spinal cord stimulation, but it also uniquely stimulates glial cells as well.

“The spinal cord stimulator works by sending a pulse that interrupts the pain signal traveling up the spinal cord to the brain so you no longer feel the chronic pain,” Dr. Anderson said. “The DTM waveform allows you to uniquely target multiple types of nerves at once and has shown an even greater decrease in pain versus traditional spinal cord stimulation waveforms.”

Advanced Pain Institute of Texas is the first in the DFW Metroplex and among the first in the country to commercially utilize the DTM waveform for spinal cord stimulation. That’s because the physicians who invented DTM mentored Broadnax and Anderson early in their careers. Dr. Broadnax took part in the early DTM clinical trials in 2016 and 2017.

The patients who have utilized the DTM waveform are very happy with the results.

“It’s a great tool especially in this day and age to combat the opioid crisis,” Dr. Anderson said. “Since we started the practice, we have been able to significantly decrease or even eliminate opioid usage in over half of our patients after their spinal cord stimulator implantation. It’s been a great instrument for that role. The key is careful patient selection and appropriate application of this exciting technology.”

]]>CBD American Shaman comes to Argylehttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/04/26/cbd-american-shaman-comes-to-argyle/
Mon, 27 Apr 2020 03:34:35 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=46439There’s no secret the CBD products industry is booming with a growing number of places selling them, but only one in Argyle that carries the trusted American Shaman brand name. Jerry and Karen Munoz opened CBD American Shaman Argyle in January about 18 months after he first tried CBD to relieve some knee and other ...

There’s no secret the CBD products industry is booming with a growing number of places selling them, but only one in Argyle that carries the trusted American Shaman brand name.

Jerry and Karen Munoz opened CBD American Shaman Argyle in January about 18 months after he first tried CBD to relieve some knee and other pain.

“I just believed in the product,” he said.

What caught their attention was American Shaman’s use of nanotechnology to make its products. It is American Shaman’s process of breaking down the CBD into Nano-sized particles so they become more bioavailable, faster acting and longer lasting.

“It’s the way your body can absorb it and use less of it because of that technology,” Karen said. “American Shaman tests several times from seed through process and has third-party testing and we believe in the quality of the products.”

They also were impressed that the two doctors who work with the company CEO are seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

CBD is a 100 percent natural alternative to traditional drugs and is derived from the hemp-extracted part of the cannabis plant that was declassified in 2018 as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.

“It also supports a healthy response to stress and promotes calmness and relaxation,” Karen said. “We’re all a little bit stressed, a little bit tense and CBD really can help with that too. CBD helps regulate the body’s normal homeostasis and supports normal immune system function. And CBD also helps with occasional sleeplessness. It improves relaxation and provides positive mental support.”

Karen quit a good office job to buy the franchise while Jerry still works full-time as a superintendent for Enterprise Products.

“We feel we are knowledgeable and educated on what the product is and what it can do for you and we are here to guide you,” Karen said. “It’s a good thing for health and keeping your immune system strong and helping with good homeostasis and well-being.”

Bring Wellness to the World is CBD American Shaman’s motto and the Argyle location features products to aid in the reduction of stress, anxiety and pain including water soluble, cloud, serums and creams, vaping, tinctures, capsules, soap, facial products and various edibles and drinks. They also offer a line of tinctures, food and snacks for dogs and cats plus snacks and liniments for horses.

“We are here to educate you about the products and how they can work with your Endocannabinoid System to help support your immune system” Jerry said. “We don’t make claims, our customers do!”

]]>Spreading the love of literacyhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/04/22/spreading-the-love-of-literacy/
Thu, 23 Apr 2020 02:09:54 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=46378Back in the early 1990s when it was just she and her husband, Michelle Cook made a habit of helping people by teaching rescue mission patrons in the Los Angeles area. After moving to Flower Mound and with her homeschooled children growing older, she wanted to do something similar here. That’s when she learned the ...

Nicol Klingenstein and Michelle Cook provide books to underprivileged children through their Book Drive for Kids nonprofit organization. (Photo by Helen’s Photography)

Back in the early 1990s when it was just she and her husband, Michelle Cook made a habit of helping people by teaching rescue mission patrons in the Los Angeles area.

After moving to Flower Mound and with her homeschooled children growing older, she wanted to do something similar here. That’s when she learned the Dallas/Fort Worth area had more than 630,000 economically disadvantaged children, most with few if any books in their homes.

So she recruited friend Nicol Klingenstein and started Book Drive for Kids three years ago. They called friends asking for any used books they could donate and initially ended up with about 2,000. She used some teaching contacts to set up classroom libraries in the Dallas County schools where they thought there was the biggest need.

“Then we started holding free book fairs so the children could choose a book they could keep. These children don’t have many choices in their lives so this is really special,” Cook said. “We started with just books donated to us and no money.”

Once they realized most of their donations were coming from Flower Mound and the surrounding areas, they extended their reach closer to home. They started with Central Elementary and Lewisville Elementary, both located in Lewisville and serving a student body which is 80 percent or more economically disadvantaged, and more recently added schools in the Denton area.

After providing books to about 4,000 students in the first year, Cook estimates it will be more than 12,000 in 2019-2020.

“We started out as a heart for literacy,” she said. “We felt there was a real need and as we’ve progressed we’ve found there is a physical and tangible need but also emotional needs. We come in and tell the kids it’s a gift to them and we encourage them to share their books with their friends. That has made an impact on the students and teachers too.”

“It’s impacted me in a way I never imagined,” Klingenstein said. “I don’t know how to explain it but they say when you try to bless someone you are blessed. I walk out of there feeling I’ve done something. They smile and they’re excited and they can’t believe the book is theirs. Even after they break the seal and put their name in it they ask ‘who do we give this back to’ and so it takes a little time for them to realize it’s theirs.”

As the organization grew it was able to secure some monetary donations from individuals and area businesses. That allowed it to apply for a matching grant from the national literacy organization Reading is Fundamental for a book ownership program.

While Cook and Klingenstein hoped for $8,000, they ended up with $18,000 allowing them to purchase 6,000 new books. They raised $4,000 in 30 days in part through the help of area businesses like Regions Bank which has provided six of the 25 overall volunteers who help with the program.

“We’ve been surprised at the feedback with gently used and even some not-so-gently used books,” Cook said. “The kids were just eating them up. So we have just grown.”

Usually they arrange a day with school librarians to have tables in the library and have classes come to them for students to choose their own books. The books are displayed on four portable shelves built by Isaac Carpenter, a Flower Mound High School student who earned his Eagle Scout badge for the community service project. He also conducted a book donation drive resulting in 1,000 books.

“We know when children choose books they are something like 90 percent more likely to read it,” Cook said. “We tell the kids it’s like shopping at Half-Price Books. There’s a mixture between new and used. And you never know what you are going to get.”

Once the organization commits to a school it commits to returning the following year.

“Our goal is we want this to be a part of the rhythm of their school years, one of their traditions that they have in their school,” Cook said.

Book Drive for Kids had already held 14 book fairs before the COVID-19 virus pandemic and its limitations hit. Fortunately, Cook and Klingenstein had just joined the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce to talk about ways to better tell their story to the community. They figure with people primarily sequestered in their homes, there should be more time to look for and find old books to donate.

Cook and Klingenstein still plan to hold a Share a Book event to celebrate World Book Day slated for April 23. The goal is for volunteers to pick up books at donators’ homes. And they hope to hold the three remaining book fairs in April and May.

To keep up with the status of all upcoming events including how to sign up as a Share a Book pick-up location, visit bookdriveforkids.com.

]]>Child abuse concerns rise amid coronavirus outbreakhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/04/15/child-abuse-concerns-rise-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/
Wed, 15 Apr 2020 16:06:01 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=46179While the current stay-at-home orders hopefully will soon stem the tide of the COVID-19 virus, they can have a chilling effect on abused and neglected children. That’s why in these uncertain days April is the perfect time for Child Abuse Awareness Month to come along. According to Debbie Jensen, executive director of Court Appointed Special ...

CASA of Denton County provides trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children.

While the current stay-at-home orders hopefully will soon stem the tide of the COVID-19 virus, they can have a chilling effect on abused and neglected children. That’s why in these uncertain days April is the perfect time for Child Abuse Awareness Month to come along.

According to Debbie Jensen, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Denton County, the fear is with children being confined to their homes, abuse and neglect cases may increase.

“There’s a lot more family stress. This can make it worse and often it’s the children who suffer,” she said. “The important thing is to keep it on the top of peoples’ minds even though we have a huge public health crisis on our hands.”

That pandemic has kept CASA’s 250 volunteers from visiting families’ homes or holding in-person awareness events to note the month. Volunteers have received virtual training including visiting remotely through video chats or by telephone.

“We’ve had to find new ways for them to visit and advocate besides visiting the home because we want to respect the orders of our county judge,” Jensen said. “We’ll definitely need more volunteers when this is all said and done and are able to go back into the community again because we think we’ll have more cases than ever.”

Even before the virus struck, the number of children in foster care was on the rise as the number of people moving into Denton County grows.

CASA is a nationwide organization where judges appoint highly-trained volunteers to help children navigate through the system. When a child doesn’t have a CASA volunteer appointed to their case it is an attorney that serves in that role.

CASA of Denton County, which started in 1992, helped 615 kids in 2019 and figures to have more this year. Volunteers typically work with 1 to 5 children and CASA utilizes married couples, friends or mother-daughter combinations to work with larger families. In Texas, children can stay in foster care up to age 21 if they agree to it and are either working or in college.

Teachers have always played a big role in spotting troubled kids as they often can detect signs that there is a problem.

“You definitely see physical signs of abused children,” Jensen said. “You can see kids who you know aren’t being taken care of. They have the appearance of not being taken care of. They may be physically neglected, dirty, and unkempt. But there are many children who don’t show signs; they can’t talk about it. Maybe a relative keeps in touch then suddenly aren’t allowed to talk to the child.”

With schools closed, volunteers are staying in touch with their children to make sure they are doing okay without their teachers and the many school activities they enjoy. They are making special efforts to send students snacks and books. The goal is to find the proper balance between helping kids and following the stay-at-home orders of government officials.

“Our volunteers have really been paying attention to their kids’ needs and helping to boost their spirits,” Jensen said. “We want to be very respectful of what our officials tell us to do.”

Donations to CASA of Denton County are encouraged as the organization is looking at postponement and cancellations of several fundraising events that would have provided much-needed revenue now. On top of that, the agency expects a significant increase in abuse and neglect cases once this crisis has passed and children return to school, day care and the watchful eyes of caring adults.

CASA has planned several virtual opportunities to learn about the growing problem of child abuse. The best place to learn the facts about child abuse, things to watch for, and highlighting work of volunteers is at www.casadenton.org. The organization will also have a presence on area highway billboards. Then once restrictions are lifted there will be more in-person on-site events. In the meantime, those interested can join a virtual info session by emailing Beth Potter at bpotter@casadenton.org.

The organization’s primary fundraiser, the Pulling for Kids sporting clay tournament at the Dallas Gun Club has been moved from May 8 to Sept. 18. Sponsorship information can be found at casadenton.org.

]]>UP Ministry making a difference for at-risk youthhttps://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2020/04/03/up-ministry-making-a-difference-for-at-risk-youth/
Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:03:55 +0000https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/?p=45868In 2013, Argyle’s Jennifer Lillis and Lantana’s Kelly Hawkins worked on what they thought was a one-time school supply drive through Argyle United Methodist Church (AUMC). Their plan was to raise what they could, distribute the items and move on to some other worthy cause. Trouble was, their efforts proved so successful, they ended up ...

In 2013, Argyle’s Jennifer Lillis and Lantana’s Kelly Hawkins worked on what they thought was a one-time school supply drive through Argyle United Methodist Church (AUMC). Their plan was to raise what they could, distribute the items and move on to some other worthy cause.

Trouble was, their efforts proved so successful, they ended up with such a large surplus of supplies and monetary donations they didn’t know what do with them.

“Because we were the ones in charge, we knew we had to figure out who else we could help,” Lillis said. “Through some of my other volunteer activities, I knew about (Denton’s) Borman Elementary, which is a Title 1 elementary school [large concentrations of low-income students]. I thought maybe they could use some extra supplies.

“This was a week before school started. So, Kelly and I took a drive up the road and asked to talk to the principal. We told him the situation and asked if they have a need and he said ‘you have no idea what an answered prayer this is.’”

The principal connected Lillis and Hawkins to the Communities in Schools of North Texas representative, who said she was worried they wouldn’t have enough items. So, the duo took about $2,000 in cash and bought some clothes at Old Navy and delivered them to the school, thinking their work was done.

Not so fast, said AUMC Pastor Chris Schoolcraft.

“He said ‘what else are you thinking about doing now that the school supply is over and you know the needs? This school needs help,’ ” Lillis said. “We both had jobs at the time and we said ‘no, we’re done with this project.’ He said ‘think about what else might come to your hearts.’

“Over the next few months Borman reached out a couple of times for things it needed and we were able to help. That’s when we realized the need was greater than just Borman. We talked to Communities in Schools to find out the scope of what they faced at the schools they served and a ministry was founded.”

They called it UP Ministry and within a year quit their jobs to help at-risk students year-round. Plus, it provided their own children a chance to see what serving others was like.

“We live in a very affluent area, so I think it’s good for kids to see everybody doesn’t look the same,” said Lillis, who parents sons Conor, 15, and Seth, 11, with husband Brian. “Family and friends get pulled-in to help.

“The rest of the world doesn’t look like we do, so I think it’s neat for them to see the diversity and understand not everyone gets to live the same way we live. It’s our job to support others in the community. We, as a community, need to come together to help all kids become successful.”

UP Ministry achieves its goal through several missions throughout the year, starting the first week of June with a summer camp at the church. Lillis hopes 60 students attend this year, all identified by Communities in Schools as those who can most benefit. Lillis said the camps help normally withdrawn students come out of their shells.

Next comes the summer snack packs, which provide non-perishable food items that kids and their families pick-up at the Denton Civic Center. Then there’s the school supply and clothing drive that concludes the week before school starts. That is followed by a fall clothing drive for heavier items and Christmas Angels, which includes both needs and wishes.

After the holidays is when UP Ministry conducts most of its annual fundraising, including a wine tasting event in February at Grapes to Wine. There’s also a small t-shirt fundraiser in March. The rest of the organization’s funding comes from donations from the community.

UP Ministry conducted these events as part of the church ministry, until last September when Lillis and Hawkins realized they could help more kids if they became a non-profit organization. That has allowed more businesses to donate and to add former youth director- and current Argyle resident– Carla Hilburn to the leadership team. She and Lillis handle marketing, while Hawkins handles finances.

As a non-profit, UP Ministry can engage with other churches, businesses and service organizations like the Young Men’s Service League, National Junior Honor Society, Girl Scout troops, CASA and the Denton Family Court. It utilizes high school and college students from various youth groups to lead the summer camps.

Lillis estimates UP Ministry is helping about 900 students in 55 area schools this school year, primarily from the Denton and Argyle school districts. They are assisted by about 100 volunteers.

“The great thing about the way we conduct the ministry is we like to connect with the families, so we’re able to see them multiple times a year and show them we’re here to support them,” she said.

UP Ministry provides special assistance throughout the year as needed, with the goal to be available when schools and churches have a need.

“Our heart is for the kids,” Lillis said. “If a school finds a student that needs shoes or needs clothing or a specific need, that’s our mission. Anything we can do to make a kid successful is our main goal.”

Lillis said UP Ministry accepts donations of both items and money throughout the year and is researching ways to secure grants from companies, like CoServ.

“Everyone is eager to help,” she said. “When you see the families and especially the kids’ faces when they pick up their backpack or the parents pick up their Christmas gifts, when you see or hear their appreciation it makes it all worthwhile.”

“The more we can get the community engaged, the more kids we can help. Any way the community can get involved is much appreciated.”